R cobb



Jan. 21, 1964 w. R. COBB 3,118,661

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR ANCHORING RESILIENT MEMBERS IN FRAMEWORKS Filed Dec. 10, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 & 1e 5 /5 /5 .2/

/2 I /5 l\ I Inventor Mil/[am Reginald Cobb y W Ml WM Attorneys Jan. 21, 1964 w. R. cosa 3,118,661

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR ANCHORING RESILIENT MEMBERS IN FRAMEWORKS Filed Dec. 10, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lnvenlor William Regine/J Cobb 2 3 M, a; Atlog'nqg re tare 3,118,661 METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR ANCHORING RE- SIDENT MEMBERS 1N FRANIEWORKS William Reginfld Cobb, Harlow, England, assignor to Greaves 8; Thomas Limited, London, England Filed Dec. 10, 1962, Ser. No. 243,317 4 laims. (Cl. 267-110) This invention relates to a method of anchoring resilient members in frameworks, and is particularly applicable to the seat and backrest members of furniture intended for sitting or reclining purposes, for example settees, couches and chairs.

The invention is particularly applicable to the anchoring in frameworks of sinusoidal springs of zig-zag form comprising successive oppositely-oriented flat reverse bends. Heretofore such springs have been anchored to timber frames by clips designed to engage an end transverse bend of a spring in a loop which permits the engaged portion to turn axially in the loop as the spring is depressed or deflected under load. The clips have been attached to the timber frame by nailing, thereby involving the risk of the wood being split, besides requiring time for the nails to be driven home flush and leaving room for human and material failure.

An object of the present invention is to obviate or mitigate these disadvantages.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the seat frame of a chair;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating a detail to a larger scale;

PEG. 3 is a section on the line A-A of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, illustrating a modification.

Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, the seat frame according to the invention comprises a rectangular framework made up of two opposed end frame members and 11 fixedly held in spacedapart relationship by two opposed side frame members 12 and 13. A plurality of tensioned resilient members which are in the form of sinusoidal springs 14 of zig-zag form comprising successive oppositely-oriented flat reverse bends 15 and 16, extend between the frame members 16 and 11 and are anchored to the latter in a manner to be hereinafter described in more detail by clips 17.

eferring now particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, the end frame members 10 and 11 are each of basically rectangular section with a top surface 18, an inside surface 19 facing the framework interior 21, and an outside surface 29 remote from the framework interior 21. A continuous right-angled indent 22 is formed at the angle between the surfaces 13 and 19 and a continuous indent 23 is formed at the angle between the surfaces =18 and 24 the included angle X between the surface 2%) and the adjacent surface 24 of the indent 23 being less than a right angle.

Each clip 17 is formed at one end :with a tongue 25 which extends from the median portion or main body of the clip at an angle less than a right angle but slightly greater than the angle X, the length of the tongue being slightly less than the depth of the indent 23 measured from the top surface 18. Each clip -17 also has, at its end remote from the tongue 25, a hook 26 formed by reverse bending of said end in the direction of the underside of the clip, that is the side thereof from which the tongue 25 extends. The clip dimensions in the direction of its length are such that the free end of the book 26 rests in the indent 22 when the tongue is flush against the surface 24 of the indent 23. The width of each clip 17 is such that the end transverse portion 27 of the spring 14 is freely extensible through the hook 26, said end transverse portion 27 being offset at 28 at its free end in the direction of the adjacent transverse portion of the spring positively to prevent involuntary withdrawal movement of the spring from the clip once fitted in posit-ion with the latter engaging the frame member 10 or 11. it will be noted, moreover, that the hook 26 spaces the median portion of the clip 17 from the surface 18, such spacing gradually diminishing from the inside to the outside of the frame. The effect of the indent 22 in inclin ing the clip 17 upwardly in the inward direction of the frame is to raise the centre of spring tension, i.e. the centre of the end transition portion 27 of the spring to the level of the surface 18 and thus in horizontal alignment with the junction between the inside surfaces of the median portion and tongue of the clip. The indent, moreover, resists any tendency of the free end of the loop 26 to open out under the most severe tension. The rounded transition portion 29 forming the base of each hook 26 is swagcd or flared at 39 at its side edges to avoid fretting between the clip and the spring.

7 Referring now to FIG. 4 of the drawing, the frame member 35 is one of two opposed end frame members of a rectangular framework of the kind shown in FIG. 1. The frame member 3 5 has parallel inside and outside surfaces 36 and 37, respectively, and a top surface 38 which inclines slightly upwardly from the outside to the inside of the member, its inclination being substantially that of the median portion of the clip 17 in FIG. 3. A continuous right-angled indent 3? is formed at the angle between the surfaces 36 and 38, and a continuous horizontal groove 4b is formed in the surface 37 at a distance from the edge 41 between the surfaces 37 and 38 which is similar to the depth of the indent 39' and is determined by the depths of the loops of clips to be referred to hereinafter.

Springs 42, which correspond to the springs 14 of the embodiment of the invention described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, extend between the two opposed frame members 35 and are anchored to each by clips 43. Each clip 43 has at each of its ends a hook 44 or 45 formed by reverse bending of the ends in the direction of the underside of the clip. The hooks 44 and 45 are identical so that the clips are reversible, and it does not matter which book engages the groove 40 and which rests in the indent 39.

The dimensions of each clip 43 in the direction of its length are such that with one hook engaging in the groove 49 and the other resting in the indent 39, the median portion rests snugly on the surface 38. The width of each clip 43 is determined in the same manner as that of the clips 17, and, like the latter, its rounded transition portions 46, forming the bases of the books 44 and 45, are swaged or flared at their side edges to avoid fretting between the clips and springs. As in the previous embodiment, the effect of inclining the clips upwardly in the inward direction of the frame is to raise the centre of spring tension.

The frame members 10, 11 and 35 are conveniently of wood and, as the indents 22, 23 and 39 and groove 40 are continuous, fabrication is very simple and the indents and groove can be formed simultaneously with final shaping of the frame members. The clips 17 and 43 could be formed on the under surfaces of their portions with spurs which would engage the frame members and resist any tendency for the clips to be transversely dsplaced along the frame members. The frame members could be of material other than wood.

The tensioned resilient members could be other than the sinusoidal springs shown in the drawings. They could, for example, be helical tension springs.

I claim:

1. For the provision of resilient support in furniture for sitting or reclining upon, the combination of:

(a) a framework which includes a pair of opposed rails each having an inner surface facing inwardly of the framework, an outer surface facing away from the framework, and a bridging surface conneoting said inner and outer surfaces; means rigidly interconnecting said rails in spaced-apart relationship; each said rail having therein a continuous l ongitudial indent at the junction between said inner and bridging surfaces and a continuous longitudinal recess in said outer surface;

(b) a number of clips spaced apart along each said rail, each said clip including a median portion extending across said bridging surface and two hook formations, one at each end of said median portion, engaging in said indent and said recess, respectively;

and

(c) a number of resilient members, fiat transverse loops at the two ends of each said resilient member, said loops being engaged Within said indent-engaging hook formations, whereby said resilient members are mounted in tensioned condition by said clips between said rails.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1, in which said indent-engaging hook formations are flared at the side edges of the bases thereof in the direction of said resilient members thereby to avoid fretting between said clips and said resilient members.

3. For the provision of resilient support in furniture for sitting or reclining upon, the combination of:

(a) a framework which includes a pair of opposed rails each having an inner surface facing inwardly of the framework, an outer surface facing away from the framework, and a bridging surface connecting said inner and outer surfaces; means rigidly interconnecting said rails in spaced-apart relationship; each said rail having therein a continuous longitudinal indent at the junction between said inner and bridging surfaces and a continuous longitudinal recess at the junction between said outer and bridging surfaces, said recess being in part defined by a surface disposed at an angle less than a right angle to said bridging surface;

(b) a number of clips spaced apart along each said rail, each said clip including a median portion extending across said bridging surface and a hook at one end of said median portion, said hook engaging in said indent and a tongue extending from the other end of said median portion at an angle at most equal to said first-mentioned angle, said tongue lying on said surface of said recess; and

(c) a number of resilient members, fiat transverse loops at the two ends of each said resilient member, said loops being engaged with-in said hooks, whereby said resilient members are mounted in tensioned condition by said clips between said rails.

4. For the provision of resilient support in furniture for sitting or reclining upon, the combination of:

(a) a framework which includes a pair of opposed rails each having an inner surface facing inwardly of the framework, an outer surface facing away from the framework, and a bridging surface connecting said inner and outer surfaces; means rigidly interconnecting said rails in spaced-apart relationship; each said rail having therein a continuous longitudinal indent at the junction between said inner and bridging surfaces and a continuous longitudinal recess in said outer surface, said recess being spaced below said bridging surface a distance about equal to the depth of said indent therebelow;

(b) a number of reversible clips spaced apart along each said rail, each said clip including a medianportion extending across said bridging surface and two identical and mutually-opposed hook formations, one at each end of said median portion, engaging in said indent and said recess, respectively; ad

(0) a number of resilient members, flat transverse loops at the two ends of each said resilient member, said loops being engaged within said indent-engaging hook formations, whereby said resilient members are mounted in tensioned condition by said clips beween said rails.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGLI PATENTS 

1. FOR THE PROVISION OF RESILIENT SUPPORT IN FURNITURE FOR SITTING OR RECLINING UPON, THE COMBINATION OF: (A) A FRAMEWORK WHICH INCLUDES A PAIR OF OPPOSED RAILS EACH HAVING AN INNER SURFACE FACING INWARDLY OF THE FRAMEWORK, AN OUTER SURFACE FACING AWAY FROM THE FRAMEWORK, AND A BRIDGING SURFACE CONNECTING SAID INNER AND OUTER SURFACES; MEANS RIGIDLY INTERCONNECTING SAID RAILS IN SPACED-APART RELATIONSHIP; EACH SAID RAIL HAVING THEREIN A CONTINUOUS LONGITUDIAL INDENT AT THE JUNCTION BETWEEN SAID INNER AND BRIDGING SURFACES AND A CONTINUOUS LONGITUDINAL RECESS IN SAID OUTER SURFACE; (B) A NUMBER OF CLIPS SPACED APART ALONG EACH SAID RAIL, EACH SAID CLIP INCLUDING A MEDIAN PORTION EXTENDING ACROSS SAID BRIDGING SURFACE AND TWO HOOK FORMATIONS, ONE AT EACH END OF SAID MEDIAN PORTION, ENGAGING IN SAID INDENT AND SAID RECESS, RESPECTIVELY; AND (C) A NUMBER OF RESILIENT MEMBERS, FLAT TRANSVERSE LOOPS AT THE TWO ENDS OF EACH SAID RESILIENT MEMBER, SAID LOOPS BEING ENGAGED WITHIN SAID INDENT-ENGAGING HOOK FORMATIONS, WHEREBY SAID RESILIENT MEMBERS ARE MOUNTED IN TENSIONED CONDITION BY SAID CLIPS BETWEEN SAID RAILS. 